Canberra Liberals criticise “lop-sided” Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council

Shadow Attorney-General, Peter Cain, has called the long-awaited Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council “lop-sided” and criticised the extensive time taken to establish the body.

Mr Cain reiterated the Canberra Liberals’ support for the Council but lamented the proposed membership model and delayed implementation.

“The Canberra Liberals are fully behind the establishment of this Council, but it must be truly representative of the ACT.”

“The Council, in its current proposed make-up, is totally lop-sided and suffers from a significant lack of community voices.”

“There is a clear overrepresentation of government officials, legal professionals and academics allocated places on the Council and minimal input from genuine community sources will be possible with only two Council spaces for community members out of a total thirteen spaces.”

“It is also disappointing that there is just a two-week application period, a particular disadvantage for members of the community wishing to apply.”

“This Council must provide the community the opportunity to voice their concerns on sentencing, bail and the law, as this Labor-Greens government have not been meeting community expectations on law and order.”

“I am also disappointed by the Attorney-General’s lethargic uptake of this important body, which was first announced way back in October 2022

“Unfortunately, this Labor-Greens government have failed to properly prioritise the establishment of this Council, which is why it is progressing at a snail’s pace.”

“We need strong community voices in addition to professional representatives to help inform law reform and sentencing,” Mr Cain concluded.